Safety Tips for Driving in Autumn

Autumn is a beautiful time of year. The leaves falling on the ground and the cooler temperatures seem to have a way of putting excitement in the air.  Unfortunately, though, autumn also brings some dangers for drivers.

In fact, driving in the fall can be quite dangerous, at least if you don’t know how to do it correctly and if you don’t have quality custom tires to keep you safe. Fortunately, we’ve got you covered on both counts!

#1 – Watch Out for Children

To start off with, most children start school in the fall, many of them for the first time. This means that they may not know the proper protocol for crossing roads, getting on and off the bus safely, and all of that. For this reason, when driving in autumn, be on the lookout for children who have wandered into the road.

Also, always stay alert and attentive. School buses make frequent stops, and you don’t want to illegally pass one or accidentally run into the back of one.

#2 – Be Careful About Leaves

Most lists of driving safety tips don’t include warnings about leaves. But, believe it or not, wet leaves are actually quite hazardous and slippery. And, of course, leaves are everywhere in autumn so you’ll want to be mindful when you see them on the road.

If you must drive through leaves, do so slowly and carefully, being sure not to do a “hard brake” at any point.

#3 – Keep An Eye Out for Deer

Finally, remember that autumn is primetime for deer! They come out to breed and will often dart in front of your car, which can lead to a wreck.

Keep your eyes open for deer to avoid hitting them. Furthermore, avoid driving at sunset and sunrise when possible since this is when these animals are most active.

Following these safety tips and getting a high quality set of custom tires is your best bet for staying safe as you drive this fall. To get great, safe tires for any season, contact us at Wakefield Auto, Truck & Van!

Did you know that manufacturers recommend checking your Climate Control Air Conditioning systems every two years to help keep your family cool? This usually means evacuating the refrigerant gas, replacing the lubricating oil, and carrying out a system leak test.

Over time the air conditioning gases escape causing the engine to vibrate, piping to move and rubber rings to expand and contract, resulting in leakage. This worsens if the air-con is not used during the winter months as with no oil passing through the system, the small rubber “O” ring seals can dry out resulting in increased leakage and a gradual deterioration in performance.

See the latest AutoFacts video to learn how your car’s air conditioning system works.

If your car air conditioner isn’t running efficiently, needs a regas, or you haven’t had it serviced for a long time, now is your moment. Go ahead, book a Repco Authorised Service $99 car air conditioning service today*.

Did you know the state of your air conditioning system doesn’t just impact the temperature of your car?  If you are experiencing bad smells coming from the air ventilation system, this may be caused by a build-up of bacteria. As your car ages, or when the air conditioning systems are used infrequently, bacteria, micro-organisms, mould and fungus start growing behind the dash panel on the evaporator causing some very unpleasant odours which can be harmful to your family.  Thankfully, it’s good to know that cleaning your system is an easy and inexpensive process at your local Repco Authorised Service Centre.

You can also find out more about air conditioning systems here

Most cars these days are fitted with power steering, which essentially means that a pump assists with the steering to make it easier to turn the wheels, even when the car is stationary.  The steering rack is connected to the front wheels and it’s the rack that allows the car to turn corners. This sound simple in practice, however it is a bit more complex and the power steering system needs to be checked regularly to ensure it is working properly.

The largest cause of failure in this system is a worn power steering pump which will not only operate ineffectively, but they can also contaminate the steering hydraulics with metal particles. These are the most likely cause of damage to components in the system such as damaged fluid seals, sticky valves and scored shafts and power bores.

Leaking hydraulic pipes that drive the steering pump can also be an issue and need checking and from time to time, or replacing, as part of your regular service. You can learn more about your power steering system by viewing our new AutoFacts video here.

If you have any concerns with your power steering call your local Repco Authorised Service centre today.

Great news for motorists in Milperra, TAG Automotive has joined our ever growing network trusted mechanical workshops. As part of the largest independent network of mechanical workshops Australia wide, TAG Automotive can now offer their customers expert car servicing and a Nationwide warranty.

Owner Tony Tannous and the team at TAG Automotive pride themselves on their exceptional levels of customer service and technical expertise.

Tony explains why they chose to join Repco Authorised Service. “As small business owners we were looking to take our business to the next level. Repco Authorised Service provides us with access to the latest technical data, training and business systems that will help us achieve those goals. We wanted to be able to offer our customers the very best when it comes to car servicing and repairs. Our customers can now experience the peace of mind that comes with expertly trained technicians, the latest diagnostic tools and a Nationwide warranty.”

TAG Automotive are also celebrating their move to a new, larger workshop in Beaconsfield Street, Milperra. This move will allow them to provide a greater range of services and a more comfortable environment for their customers. You can find out more at their brand new website.

If you want to keep your motor running without heat or friction developing you really need to get your bearings right.

So, what are wheel bearings and why are they important?

Like all moving parts on a car, bearings are subject wear and tear. You may have heard the term ‘pack the bearings’ which means packing the bearings with grease to keep them moving freely.

As some bearings are in sealed units, when it comes time to change them the whole unit is replaced.

One of the bearings subject to a lot of wear are the wheel bearings which are positioned in the hub which the wheel is bolted to.

If a wheel bearing starts to wear there will be free play in the wheel and if not replaced it will eventually collapse. The good news is, when you bring your car into your REPCO Authorised Service Centre for a service, your bearings are inspected as part of their 65 point safety check.

View our latest AutoFact video, it will help you get your bearings on this subject.

Wheel Bearings aren’t just important in your car, the bearings in your caravan, camper and trailer also need regular attention.

Learn more about regular servicing on these vehicles and find one of our specialists.

It is fair to say that the Ford Territory and Falcon are two of the most popular vehicles on Australian roads.  Both of these models are prone to high rates of wear in some rear suspension components, such as the rear differential bushing.  This is particularly apparent on vehicles that have travelled high kilometres, have high horsepower or vehicles towing loads regularly.

A tell-tale sign that this bushing is no longer performing as intended is hearing a clunking noise or feeling a jolt under acceleration or when shifting gears from drive to reverse.  The primary function of the rear differential bushing is to provide smooth and quiet transfer of power from the engine to the rear wheels of your vehicle under acceleration.

Should this issue go unresolved it may result in excessive wear on surrounding drive train and suspension components so it is wise and economical to act swiftly should you be experiencing any of these symptoms.

Your local Repco Authorised Service Centre is experienced in diagnosing and fixing this problem. We can replace your worn rubber differential bushing with a highly durable Nolathane differential bushing specifically designed and manufactured to address this problem and return your vehicle back to its optimum performance.

So, if clunking goes with your Territory  or Falcon, call us today.

Want to know exactly what a differential does?

We are delighted to welcome three new businesses to our ever growing network of independent mechanical workshops. Wherever you drive, there is bound to be a Repco Authorised Service centre nearby for all your car service needs.

Jiffy In Jandakot

Great news for motorists in Jandakot, Western Australia! Jiffy Car Care has joined our ever growing network trusted mechanical workshops. As part of the largest independent network of mechanical workshops Australia wide, Jiffy Car Care can now offer their customers expert car servicing and a Nationwide warranty. You can discover the great range of services they offer at their new website  www.jiffycarcare.repcoservice.net

Kar-Fix In Frankston

Kar-Fix in Frankston South, Victoria has joined our ever growing network trusted mechanical workshops. Owners Julian and Elaina Cole and the team at Kar-Fix pride themselves on their exceptional levels of customer service and technical expertise. They wanted to offer their customers the very best when it comes to car servicing and repairs. Kar-Fix customers can now experience the peace of mind that comes with expertly trained technicians, the latest diagnostic tools and a Nationwide warranty. See their new website for all their services.

New In Newcastle

Newcastle Auto Service Centre has joined our ever growing network trusted mechanical workshops. As part of the largest independent network of mechanical workshops Australia wide, Newcastle Auto Service Centre now offers their customers expert car servicing and a Nationwide warranty. Owners Simon and Ben and the team at Newcastle Auto Service Centre pride themselves on their exceptional levels of customer service and technical expertise. As part of the Repco Authorised Service network Newcastle Auto Service Centre now have a brand new website offering customers the convenience of being able to book services online.

What’s the diff? Well, it’s short for ‘differential’ which has the job of balancing the speed of your car’s drive wheels. When a car is turning a corner the inside wheels have slightly less distance to travel than the outside wheels. The ‘differential’ as its name suggests, compensates for the difference.  You can learn all about how the Diff works by viewing our latest AutoFacts video.

Now if you drive a front wheel drive vehicle then this function is handled by the trans axel, however its role is the same. For the more traditional rear wheel drive, the differential is located on the rear axle.

On 4WD drives and all wheel drive vehicles you’ll have a differential on both front and rear axles and a transfer case that handles the difference of power as required from front to rear.

As differentials have to cope with enormous amounts of torque and strain, they are manufactured as heavy duty components relying on oil to keep them cool and lubricated.

Like all oils they do wear out and need replacing from time to time… along with a number of seals which are located at the junction of the universal joint and at the end of each axel.

The good news is, when you have your car serviced at your Repco Authorised Service centre, your oil level and seals are inspected as part of their 65 point safety check.

We are proud to be long term supporters of the fantastic work that the Starlight Children’s Foundation does for sick children.

So, what is it that Starlight does and why is it so important?  Happiness is a part of total health care, and the Starlight Children’s Foundation supports kids, teenagers and their families all over Australia. Every minute of every day a child is admitted to hospital in Australia. Starlight brightens the lives of sick kids and their families, turning fear, pain and stress into fun, joy and laughter. Last year Starlight supported 145,000 seriously ill children, teens and their families – regardless of illness, injury or age.

Recently, Mr Peter Webb, Repco Authorised Service National Manager attended a special day at a Starlight Express Room to see first-hand the amazing work being done.  Mr Webb explains why the Starlight Children’s Foundation is the chosen charity of RAS. “Like many of our workshop owners, I’m a parent and a grandparent, so it was a pretty simple decision to make. What better way to help than to bring a little hope and joy into a sick child’s life?”

Friday May 1st is Starlight Day. To support this initiative Repco Authorised Service will be making a donation on behalf of each of the 360 independent mechanical businesses Nationwide.

We should point out that we aren’t having a go at your musical preferences, but rather your shock absorbers. If you have worn shock absorbers on your car, not only will you be rocking and rolling around corners, but possibly reducing your stopping distance by as much as 2.6 metres which can be incredibly dangerous for everyone on the road.

Most people don’t know that the primary role of shockers is to keep your tyres in constant contact with the road surface. That is why Repco Authorised Service members are part of the Monroe Safety Specialist program, to help educate and keep motorists safe. View our Auto Facts Video to learn more.

As a Monroe Safety Specialist close to 360 Repco Authorised Service Centres across Australia can offer customers the peace of mind that comes from knowing that your independent mechanical workshop is partnering with one of the biggest names in the business.

Our fully trained technicians can test all of your steering and suspension systems and advise you on the right shockers for your driving conditions and needs. Learn more about shock absorbers here.

So call your local Repco Authorised Service centre today and make sure the only rock and roll in your car is coming from the sound system!